Why Pacific Island states should seek collective security for the region
With growing rivalry between great powers in the Pacific, the Pacific Islands Forum is a chance to seek collective protection for the region’s small nations.
The Pacific Islands Forum, held in Palau, has recently focused on the growing strategic importance of the region in the context of great power rivalry. While participants discuss various issues such as transnational crime, energy security, climate change, development finance, seabed minerals, and transport links, the broader threat looms: what happens when powerful nations decide the Pacific is strategically significant?
Small island states possess limited military, economic, and diplomatic resources, making them vulnerable. To address this, shelter theory suggests that these nations could seek collective protection and support from international institutions or larger powers. The urgency of this need is evident with recent PLA activities near Tuvalu, submarine drills in the Tasman Sea, and the deployment of military drones in Papua New Guinea.
China's aggressive actions in the Pacific, including the deployment of forces and attempts to exclude Taiwan's participation in regional events, have raised concerns. Both Taiwan and mainland China participate in the Pacific Island Forum, and Beijing has reportedly pressured some Pacific leaders not to attend this year's meeting.
While the Trump administration's foreign policy has further complicated the security landscape, Pacific nations are not passive observers. They maintain their agency, interests, and histories, and the Pacific Island Forum remains active despite challenges.
The key question is not which power the Pacific should align with but how these states can collectively build shelter to preserve their freedom of action. A successful security partnership should enhance resilience without sacrificing diplomatic autonomy. Development finance should foster self-sufficiency rather than create political dependency. The forum's imperfections, diverse diplomatic relationships, and differing security concerns highlight the need for stronger regional institutions.
The Pacific's geography provides leverage, with vast maritime spaces and key nodes along vital routes and resources. The recent proposal for a region-wide security arrangement by the Solomon Islands exemplifies efforts to ensure no Pacific country faces coercion alone. By expanding bilateral agreements and deepening cooperation among forum members, the Pacific can achieve collective capability in areas such as maritime surveillance, disaster response, energy security, climate adaptation, and infrastructure standards.
Ultimately, the strongest form of Pacific security lies in preventing the region from being militarized by external forces, maintaining room for each nation's independent decision-making. In an era of great power competition, Pacific states must build collective shelter together to safeguard their sovereignty.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
